Becoming a Globetrotter Past Review
By Suha G (Economics, Political Science, Grinnell College) - abroad from 01/07/2015 to 05/15/2015 with
IES Abroad: Freiburg - European Union: Politics, Law & Economics
My biggest take away was that planning is futile when you aim to cover over thirteen countries in four months. As long as you have the basics to survive in all kinds of weather, some amazing people and the will to walk through an entire city in one day, you'll love this program!
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The IES Center staff is very helpful on most occasions. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The Stay Inn I lived in during the semster was very clean and had great services. However, the organization of housing by the IES staff was unorganized and sometimes problematic because of the large number of students our program had. |
| * Food: |
N/a since our program did not come with a meal plan. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Within Freiburg health services were easily accessible. However, it became a lot more difficult when we travelled to other countries with our program. |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Freiburg was very cheap but other cities we travelled to were not. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 200 level |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Flatmates are the best resource to practice German on this program. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 0 |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | That no matter how much you plan, it doesn't ever work out exactly like you want but that is the beauty of having this experience because you make the best memories that way! |
